Key facts
- President Zelensky awarded Elon Musk Ukraine's Order of Liberty on August 26.
- Kyiv is seeking Musk's approval to use Starlink technology on drones operating inside Russia.
- Musk has reportedly been reluctant to allow Starlink terminals to operate over Russian territory, viewing it as an escalation.
- Starlink has helped Ukrainian forces maintain communications and coordinate operations since 2022.
- SpaceX disabled thousands of Starlink terminals used by Russian forces in February 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Ukraine's Order of Freedom. The honor, bestowed by presidential decree on August 26, recognizes Musk's contributions to protecting people's lives and freedom, and fostering relations between Ukraine and the United States. This award comes as Ukraine actively seeks Musk's permission to utilize Starlink satellite internet terminals for drone operations within Russian territory. Kyiv believes this expanded access could significantly disrupt Russia's military capabilities and potentially prolong the conflict. Musk has reportedly expressed reservations about allowing Starlink use over Russian territory, viewing such a move as an escalation. Starlink has been instrumental in maintaining communications and coordinating operations for Ukrainian forces since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In a previous instance in February 2026, SpaceX disabled thousands of Starlink terminals used by Russian forces, which reportedly weakened their military capabilities. President Zelensky indicated that Musk might reconsider his stance on allowing Starlink use over Russia if presented with further arguments. The Order of Freedom is typically awarded to foreign leaders for their support of Ukraine, with recent recipients including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.